Detachable locking means for an excavating bucket tooth



NOV. 27, 1951 M HQSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April 2,1946 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MOQGAN DAQSTETTE/Q A TTOQNEY.

Nov. 27, 1951 M. D. HOSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April 2,1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 vbii? v INVENTOR. I MORGAN DJE OSTETTER,

ATTORNEY.

Nov. 27, 1951 M. D. HOSTETTER 2,576,225

DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Filed April (2,1946 3 ShGehS-Shefl; 3

1 INVENTOR- Moeemv D. .HbSTEfTEE,

In ummy,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 27, 1951 OFFICE DETACHABLE LOCKING MEANS FOR AN EXCAVATING BUCKET TOOTH Morgan D. Hostetter, El Monte, Calif. Application April2, 1946, Serial No. 659,047

Claims. 1

My invention relates to an improved digger tooth construction fordigging buckets, shovel dippers, trenching machines and the like, andparticularly to that type of tooth construction which includes asocketed digging point mounted on a tapered tang of a supporting body orbase carried by the bucket or other earth moving implement, the pointbeing detachably secured on the supporting body to permit ofresharpening or replacement thereof.

Various means has been heretofore provided for releasably locking thedigging point on the tang and in such manner as to maintain the pointagainst loose play on the body. In all cases with which I am familiar,the construction of the point or the tang or both, is such that earthand other foreign matter can enter and clog or other wise interfere withoperation of the locking means to effect release and detachment of thepoint from the body. Also, the parts of the locking means are associatedwith the point and tang so as to be subjected to those forces producedas a result of the point being thrust into hard formations. Resultant ofthese forces the parts of the locking means become damaged or jammedand, hence, the locking means cannot be actuated to effect release anddetachment of the point from the tang, nor does it remain effective toabsorb play occurring between the point and the tang.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a digger tooth constructionembodying a locking means which is constantly and effectively operableto maintain the point releasably locked on the tang, and toautomatically take up any slack occurring between the point and the tangduring use of the tooth.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide in a digger toothconstruction, a point locking means which operates by gravity, or byspring pressure, or by cams, to take up play of the point on the tang tomaintain the point tightly seated on the tang.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a digger toothconstruction in which the locking means is associated with the point andtang in such manner as to be completely housed, and thus protectedagainst the entrance of earth formations to insure permanentoperativeness thereof both to the end of absorbing play of the point onthe tang, and releasing the point for detachment when desired.

A further purpose of my invention is the provision of a point lockingmeans which is correlated with the point and tang as to be protectedagainst damage by the forces produced by the point being thrust intoformations, and thus operativeness of its parts is preserved.

I will describe only four forms of digger teeth constructions, eachembodying my invention, and

will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view showing in perspective one form of digger toothconstruction embodying my invention in applied position on the forwardedge of a bucket.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing in side elevation, and partly insection the tooth construction of Fig. l, and with the tooth point inlocked position on the tang.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the point in releasedposition to allow detachment thereof from the tang.

Fig. 4. is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 and taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of Fig.2.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing the lockingmeans for the tooth point.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing another form of toothconstruction embodying my invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 and showing the locking key in areleased position.

Fig. 11 is a View similar to Fig. 8 showing a.

third form of digger tooth construction embody-- ing my invention.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on the line I 2-- I2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 11 showing a fourth form of diggertooth bodying my invention.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary plan view of the point shown in Fig. 13.

Referring specifically to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to'7, the supporting body N5 of this tooth construction, is of rectangularform in cross section, tapers forwardly from its rear end; and its rearend formed with rearwardly opening socket ll receiving a supporting bossI8 which, by any suitable means, is fixedly secured on and projects fromthe forward edge I9 of a bucket.

This supporting body I 6 includes an integral and forwardly extendingtang 20 also tapered, and bordered at its rear end on both sides and thetop and bottom by shoulders indicated generally at 2 I. Ahead of the topshoulder, the tang 20 is formed with a slot 22 which communicates at itsforward side with an opening or keyway 23 having parallel side walls 24and downwardly converging front and rear walls 25 and 26 to give a wedgeform to the opening as a whole, with the wide end uppermost and openingto the top side construction emof the tang. The slot 22 and the openingor keyway 23 are disposed in the same vertical plane, and one whichpreferablycoincides with the major axisof the tang.

Laterally of the opening 23 the tang 29 is formed with a pocket 27 whichopens to the top Likewise for a purpose to be described later herein,the body it and the tang 23 are provided at their undersides withacommon passage 3| which extends upwardly and forwardly to communicatewith the lower end of the wedge opening 23. This passage has an entranceend 32 leading to a screw-threaded portion 33, the end portion exceedingin diameter that of the passage proper, and the portion receiving a plug34 to normally close the passage;

The removable digging point of the tooth construction is indicated at35, and is tapered substantially symmetrically with the taper of thebody IS, with its rear end formed with a forwardly tapering, rearwardlyopening socket 36. This socket is adapted to receive the tang 20 with aclose fit, but with the rear edges of the digging point at the sides,bottom and top spaced from the shoulders 21.

Fixed adjacent the rear upper edge of the point '35 so as to extenddownward into the socket 36,

is'a lug 31 of a width to be received in the slot 22 without contactingthe walls thereof, when the tang 29 is seated in the socket. The shapeof the mg 3'! is such that when within the slot, its forward edge isforwardly of but parallel'to the rear wall 26 of the opening 23, for apurpose to be later described herein.

The locking means of this form of my invention, for releasably securingthe digging point 35 on the tang 26, may comprise a key 38 in the formof a solid body of a size to be received in the opening or keyway, andhaving substantially parallel sides 39, and forward and rear edges 40and 4| converging downward to a sloping bottom edge 42, to give a wedgeform to the body.

Extending inwardly from the edge 42 is a socket 43 for receiving therounded free end 44 of a shifting to0l45 having'a handle 43. The wedgekey 38 may be associated with a cam 41 mounted on its upper or wide endby a pair of studs 48 fixed to the cam and surrounded by coiledcompression springs 49, and the studs and springs are received inrecesses 56 in the key body to allow the studs to telescope in the bodyagainst the.

tension of the springs.

The cam- 4'! is adapted to have contact with a complemental cam surface51 formed by recessing the underside ofthe top wall of the socket 3BThewidth of this cam surface is substantially twice the width of the cam41, and that portion thereof directly above the opening 23 terminates atthe deep end in an abrupt shoulder 52, while the corresponding end ofthat portion of thesurface above the pocket 21, terminates in arearwardly sloping shoulder 53.

To mount the point on the tang, the key 38 must be first positioned inthe pocket 2'! (see Figs. 5 and 6) in order that it shall be disposed at-one side of the path of movement of the lug 31. as the point is passedonto the tang. During thisoperation the cam. 41 is engaged by the underflat surface of the point and depressed against of the tang and to theopening 23 at one of its edge of the lug 31.

. of the lower end of the keyway and the upper cam recess when it willrise into contact with the cam surface 5|. Because of the outer inclinedwall 28 of the pocket 21, both the cam and the key will assume a tiltedposition as shown in Fig. 5, and for the lug 3? to clear the key, it maybe beveled on one corner thereof as indicated at 3711.

The point having been moved onto the tang so that the latter is snuglyfitted in the socket 36 (see Fig. 2), the forward edge of the lug 31 isnow in a position to permit the key 38 to be shifted from the pocket 21into the opening or keyway 23. Such shifting of the key may beaccomplished by first removing the plug 34, and then extending the tool45 upwardly into the passage 3|, until.

its end 44 engages within the socket 43. By now moving the toollaterally away from the pocket 21, (the diameter of the passagepermitting of. this) the key 38 together with the cam 41, can be shiftedinto the keyway 23 to be interposed between the forward wall 25 and theforward edge of the lug 31. (See Fig. 2). In this shifted position ofthe key 38, the cam 41 is still in contact with the cam surface 5!, andthe springs 49 are compressed to urge the key downwardly in the keyway.Also, because the rear wall 26 of the opening 23 is to the rear of therear wall 30 of the pocket 21, the key, once moved into the opening,cannot fallback into the pocket.

Because of the tapering form of the wall 25,

the forward edge of the lug 31, and thecorresponding tapering of theforward and rear edges 40 and 4| of the key 33,v it becomes clear that:

thekey, under the pressure of the springs, functions to lock the pointon the tang. Once. such locking is effected, the tool 45 is withdrawnfrom. the passage 3|, and the plug 34 reapplied to close the passageagainst the entrance of earth or other foreign matter. As so locked thepoint is snugly fitted on the tang, but therear edges of the point areand permanently remain out of contact with the body shoulders 2|, asalso does the forward However, there isa bridging ends of the keyway,pocket 2'! and. slot 22, by the point 35 to close these cavities againstthe entrance of earth and other foreign matter, so that in conjunctionwith the plug 34, the parts of the point locking means are completelyhoused and thus maintained operative to release the point when desired.

With the point 35 locked on the tang 20 as described, any movement ofthe point rearwardly on the tang causes a corresponding movement of thelug 31. As this occurs, the key under the action of the springs 49,moves downward in the keyway to absorb the movement of the lug, and takeup any possible play of the point on the tang to maintain the pointtightly fitted on the tang.

Under rearward movement of the point the cam surface 5| is movedlikewise, to force the cam 47 downward, and in this manner any loss oftension of the springs 49 by reason of downward adjustment of the key tocompensate for rearward movement of the lug 3'1, is restored to insureholding of the key in firm contact with bothv the lug 3'! and the tangwall 25.

Any tendency of the point to move forwardly on the tang resultant ofdragging the point rearwardly out of a formation, is resisted not onlyby the key 38 but by the cam 41 abutting the shoulder 52.

The greater the angle between the surfaces of the wall and the forwardedge of the lug 31, the greater the tendency of the wedge key to slipupwardly in the keyway and loosen the point. As so designed this angleis about degrees in order that the key may be easily moved upward by thetool to release the point as will be later described, but to preventsuch accidental movement as well as to insure proper downward feeding ofthe key, the springs 49 are employed. Should the angle be decreased toprevent any such upward slipping tendency, then the springs could bedispensed with but naturally, it would require more manual efiort toraise the key by the tool. Also, where no springs are employed, gravitycan be relied upon to feed the key downward to take up any playoccurring between the point and tang and thus maintain the point tightlyon the tang.

To operate the locking means to release the point for detachment fromthe tang, the plug 34 is first removed, and then the tool 45 extendedthrough the passage 3| into the socket 43, whereupon by first forcingthe tool upwardly the key is raised in the keyway, and then by pressingthe tool toward the pocket 21, the key can be pushed back into thepocket. Thus the key is now to one side of the lug 31, so that the pointis ready for removal from the tang.

As the point is removed, the wide end of the cam 41 engages surface 53,and because the latter slopes downward, it presses the cam downwardagainst the tension of the springs 49 to permit the point to pass overthe cam and off of the tang. The key cannot fall back into the keywayduring this point removing operation, because the key is in tiltedposition against the pocket wall 28 and pressed downward in the pocketby the springs 49 and the cam 41, to hold it in such position.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9, and 10, I have here shown another diggertooth construction in which the tang 20 and the point 35 are the same inconstruction as in the first form, with the following exceptions:

The tang is without the passage 3!, and the point is without the camrecess 5|. The point instead has in its upper socket wall, an openingtherethrough directly above the pocket 21, normally closed by acompressible plug 56 preferably formed of rubber. may be rectangularwith its end walls chamfered (see Fig. 8), and the plug correspondinglyshaped so as to be under compression when within the opening, to securethe plug against accidental removal from the opening.

The wedge key 38 is also identical to the first form, except it isprovided in one of its sides with a groove 57 leading downward toasocket 58. Also, the cam 41 is substituted by a flat head 59, with arecess in its right hand edge.

The key 38 is insertable into the pocket 21 through the opening 55 byfirst removing the plug 55, and it can be moved laterally into thekeyway 23 and in advance of the lug 31, by extending the hooked end 6|of a tool 62 downwardly through the opening, the recess 60, the groove57, and finally into the socket 58, when, by moving the tool toward thekeyway and pressing downwardly, the key and the head 59 can be movedinto the keyway with the head beneath the upper wall of the point socket(see Fig. 9).

In this position, the key coacts with the wall 25 and the lug 31 to lockthe point on the tang and to take up any play which might developbetween the point and the tang, as in the first form of my invention.

Once the key is in looking position, the plug 56 The opening way 55 isreplaced in the opening 55 to close such opening against the entrance ofearth formations into the pocket 21, and there being no other openingsthrough which earth can enter the point socket or the tang, it becomesmanifest that operativeness of the point locking parts is preserved toinsure release and detachment of the point when desired.

When detaching the point, the key can be shifted from the keyway 23 tothe pocket 21 by first removing the plug 56, extending the tool 62downwardly through the opening, and then laterally to cause the hook 6|to seat within the socket 58, when, by reversing the aforesaid movementsof the tool, the key can be moved into the pocket, and withdrawn fromthe pocket if desired.

Referring to the form of my invention shown in Figs. 11 and 12, thisdigger tooth construction likewise comprises a digging point 35 having atapered socket 36 receiving a tapered tang 26. The tang has a taperedkeyway 23 extending vertically therethrough, and a slot 22 to the rearof the keyway, but the pocket 21 is omitted.

The point 35 is likewise provided with the lug 31 receivable in the slot22, but the upper wall of the point socket is formed with circularopening 65 directly above the keyway, which is normally closed by a plug66 screw-threaded therein, and having a wrench receiving socket 61 forturning the plug. The locking wedge key 38 is insertable into the keyway23 through the opening 65, upon removal of the plug 66.

For urging the key downward to lock and absorb play of the point on thetang, a stud 68 is telescopically fitted in the upper end of the key,and on the upper end of the stud is fixed a fiat head 59. Surroundingthe stud and fitted in the key, is a coiled spring Ill. 5

With the plug 66 applied, its inner side bears against the head 69 tomaintain the spring 16 under compression and thereby cause the spring tourge the key downward and hold it in firm contact with the wall 25 andthe lug 31 to lock the point on the tang, and to feed the key downwardas the lug moves rearward to absorb any play which may develop betweenthe point and the tang. To detach the point from the tang, the key canbe removed from the keyway by first removing the plug.

Referring to Figs. 13 and 14, a fourth form of digger tooth constructionis disclosed, which is identical to the form shown in Figs. ll and 12,with the following exceptions:

The head 69a is in the form of a cam, and under the pressure of thespring 10, engages a cam surface H on the under side of a plug 66aremovably secured in an opening 65a in the top of point 35 by a bayonetslot connection '12.

The cam 69a coacts with the surface ll in the same and for the samepurpose as described in connection with the cam 41 and the surface 5|,of the first form of my invention.

To prevent possible shearing of the cam 66a off of the stud 68, underthe forceexerted axially thereagainst by the surface H as the point ismoved rearwardly on the tang, a projection 13 is fixed to the key 38 atthe wide end of the cam to engage the latter and thus brace the camagainst axial movement.

Certain structural and functional characteristics are common to allforms of my invention. The wedge key being within a vertically disposedWedge keyway, is responsive to gravity to automatically feed the keydownward to maintain it in engagement with the lug, which serves-notonly to lock the point on the tang, but to absorb any play developingbetween the point and tang.

To preventpossible slippage of the key upwardly, springs areemployed topositively urge the key downwardly.

In addition, inal'l cases the keyway, the key and the other parts of thepointlocking means are completely enclosed in the tang by the pointsocket, so that earth formations cannot gain access toithe locking meansand thus damage or interfere with operation of the lockingmeans whenrequired to release and detach the point. Last,'but not least, thelockin means parts, by virtue of being contained wholly within the tang,

are not subject to the damaging forces of thepoint whendigging, and,hence, remain operative at all times.

Although I have herein shown and described only four forms-of diggertooth constructions embodying my invention, it is to be understood thatvarious changes and modifications may be made therein withoutdepartingfrom the spirit or my invention and the spirit and scope of the appendedclaims.

1. 'A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having aforwardly extending tang-provided with a tapered opening extendingdownwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicatingwith said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alined with saidopening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving saidtang-,"a lug fixed to said point within said socket; and a wedge keynormally in said pocket to allow application of said 1 point to saidtang, but after application shiftable from said pocket into said openingby extending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so asto be interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of saidopening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang, andwhereby as said lug moves rearwardly under rearward movement of saidpoint, said key will gravitate downwardly in said opening to take upplay between the key and the lug.

2. A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having aforwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extendingdownwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicatingwith said opening,

and-a recess rearwardly of and alined with said opening; a point havinga rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang; a lug fixed to saidpoint within said socket; a wedge key normally in said pocket to allowapplication of said point to said tang, butafter application shiftablefrom said pocket into said opening by extending a tool upwardly throughthe bottom of said opening', so as to be'interposed between said lug andthe forward tapered wall of said opening to coact' therewith in lookingsaid point on said tang and resilient means between said point and saidkey forurging said key downwardly insaid opening whereby as said lugmoves rearwardly under rearward movement of said point, said keyoperates to take up play between the key and the lug.

3.'A'digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body havingaforwardly extending tang provided with atapere'd opening extendingdownwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket laterally of and communicatingwith said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alined with saidopening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receiving said tang;a lug fixed to said point within said socket;..a wedge key normally 8 Vin said pocket to allow application of said point to said tang, butafter application shiftable from said pocket into said opening byextending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so

as to be interposed between said lug and the'for ward tapered wall ofsaid opening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang; andcams on said point and said key coacting under rearward movement ofsaid'point' on said tang to press said key downwardly to take up playbetween the key and the lug.

l; A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having aforwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extending Vdownwardly therethrcugh, a tapered pocket lat-- erally of andcommunicating with said opening, and a recess rearwardly of and alinedwith said opening; a point having a rearwardly opening socket receivingsaid tang; a lug fixed-to said point within said socket; a wedge keynormally in said pocket to allow application of saidpoint to said tang,but'after application shiftable from said pocket into said opening byextending a tool upwardly through the bottom of said opening, so

as to be interposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall ofsaid opening to coast therewith in locking said point on said tang; camson said point and said key coacting under rearward movement of saidpoint on said tang to press said key downwardly to take up play betweenthe key and the lug; and springmeans between the key and the key forurging the key downwardly.

5. A digger tooth construction, including: a supporting body having aforwardly extending tang provided with a tapered opening extendingdownwardly therethrough, a tapered pocket lat ing', so as to beinterposed between said lug and the forward tapered wall of "saidopening to coact therewith in looking said point on said tang; resilientmeans between said point andsaid key for urging said key downwardly msaid opening,

whereby as said lug moves rearwardly under rearward movement of saidpoint, said key operates to take up play between the key and the lug;and cam means between said point and said resilient-means, acting underrearward movement of said point on said tang, to compensate for any lossin tension of said resilient means result ant of downward movement ofsaid key.

MORGAN D. HOSTETTER. 7

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 7 Name Date 864,185 D'avison Nov. 7, 19051,849,728 Backmann Mar. 15, 1932 1,934,415 Fisher Nov. 7, 1933 2,227,674Ratkowski Jan. 7,1941 2,251,169 I Seal July 29, 1941 2,307,359 CrawfordJan. 5,1943 2,312,802 Crawford Mar. 2, 1943 2,325,991

White AllEJ 3, 1943'

